Typewriting machine



May 20, 192.4.

G- 6. DEGENER TYPEWRLTING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 51 1923 ,1 ,iivveniEbr WI Afifornezys l M Patented May 2 0, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,494,776 PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE O. DEGENEB, OF HARTFORD; CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed August 31, 1823. Serial No. 680,405.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE O. DEGENER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriting machines inwhich the type bars are moved to the printing point by key levers operatively connected with the type bars and are returned to normal position by springs ofvarious kinds. Machines of this class have been provided with means for varying the ten sion of the return springs.

According to my invention, I provide novel means for varying the relation of the springs to the key levers which, without changing the tension of the springs, varies within desired limitations their effective force on the type action. Another feature of my invention resides in a latch carried by each key leverwhich operates momentarily to lock or hold the connected type bar in normal or retracted position immediately after it has reached such position but which automatically releases itself immediately after the actuated key has been released by the operator, and as soon as the type bar has reached its rest.

In carrying out my invention, I provide each key lever with a spring which is at tached to a frame mounted in the machine below the type bars. This frame carries all the springs and is provided with means for adjusting its position fore and aft of the machine in such manner that the connections between the springs and the key levers is varied relatively to the fulcrums of the key levers and thus the lengths of the arms of the key levers relativel to the sprin s is adjusted so that the e ective force 0 the springs is varied. I

Each ke lever is provided with a latch which is a apted to engage a stationary part of the machine frame and which serves to momentarily hold the connected type bar in its retracted position against rebound when first brought to this position. The latch is so constructed and mounted that while it momentarily locks the connected key lever and therefore the connected type bar, it immediately thereafter, by its own weight or gravity, returns to its normal unlatched pos1t1on.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are frag-- mentary views of a machine of the Roya type with my improvements applied. I would say, however, that my Improvements may be applied to type actions for typewriting machines of other kinds. I have merely illustrated mechanism of well known and approved construction to portion of a typewriting which my improvements are particularly applicable.

Figure .1 1s a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of so much of the mechanism of a typewriting machine as is necessary to illustrate how my improvements are applied thereto.

Flgure 2 shows a transverse section and illustrates particularly the construction of 1 the spring-carrying frame forming part of my improvements.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the springs and their frame.

Figure 4 is a detail view, showing how a latch constructed in accordance with my invention is applied to-a key lever, and how it proved construction. Each type bar is pivotally mounted at B and the key levers are pivotally mounted to move about a common axis d in a transverse rail or bracket U carried by the main frame.

The key levers are held in their normal, raised position by 5 rings E carried by. a frame F which is ad ustable fore and aft of the machine in a manner hereinafter de-' scribed. Preferably the frame F is Z-shaped in cross section, the upper forwardly extending part of the frame supporting the springs and the frame is supported by pins G expart of the machine frame is indicated tending rearwardly from the rail U. These pins not only serve to support the framebut they also serve to hold it in proper al1nement and to guide it while bein moved.

Each spring E has a horizonta upper part having at its front end a downwardly extending looped part c which extends under a key lever and each such spring is coiled at e to increase its resiliency. The rear end of each spring is rigidly secured to the frame F and preferably each spring is made of wire so that conveniently the two springs for two adjacent key levers may be made from a single piece of wire as shown. Each pair of springs E may thus be secured to the frame F by a single screw H. This is the preferred way of constructing the springs and of attaching them to the frame but other devices for this pur ose are'contemplated.

When a ey lever is depressed it acts against the force of a spring E and when the key lever is released by the operator the spring serves to return the key lever and the connected type bar to normal position.

In order to vary the effective force of the springs on the type action without changing the tension of the springs, I provide means for adjusting the leverage of the key levers with relation to the springs; that is, for changing the length of the arms of the key levers relatively to the engaged ends of the springs and the fulcrum of the levers. Preferably this is done by arod K extending through the back of the main frame and provided with a screw thread it engaging{ the frame F. The rod is provided with a nob k by means of which it may be turned to move the frame fore and aft of the machine. In order to strengthen the frame and to guide it, I have provided said frame with an arm L extending longitudinally rearwards under a roller m on a bracket M attached to the frame A. By these devices the spring-carrying frame may be adjusted to the desired extent to vary the relation of the springs to the key levers. Preferably the frame F is formed with a toothed flange f for holding the wire springs in proper position.

It will be observed that the springs E have front ends which extend under the key levers and they have a sliding engagement with said levers. The coils e are preferably located close to the front of the frame F and these coils have beenfound to add the proper resiliency to the wire to hold the key levers in normal, raised position and to return them to such position after they have been operated.

In order to enable the key levers to be operated with light touch and to momentarily lock the type bars in their normal or retracted position when the are released, I provide each key lever with a latch member N which carries the finger meagre piece and which is pivotally connected with "the front portion of the key lever at n in the manner shown. The finger piece 0 is ber N and each latch member N is formed with arms s, s which engage the front portion of the associated key lever and hold the parts in proper relation with each other when in operation.

The key levers extend through a comb guide T of the usual kind which, as shown, is attached to the stop rail R in any suitable way.

Normally, of course, the front ends of the type bars rest on the stop D and the latches n are then disengaged from the alining plate P. When a finger piece 0 is depressed the associated key lever is also depressed, the arms 8, 8' being then engaged with the front of the key lever. As soon as the finger of the operator is released from the finger piece the key lever is raised by its spring and the type bar returns to normal position, its front end coming in contact with the stop or rest D. Inasmuch as the key lever moves quickly an impetus is given to the latch member which causes its front end to engage the alining plate in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. This occurs atprecisely the same time that the front end of the type bar reaches the stop D and thus the type bar is prevented from rebounding. In this way any tangling or confusion of the type bars is avoided. The parts are so made and adjusted that when the latch operates to hold the type bar with its front end resting on the stop D it does so only momentarily as the weight of the front of the latch or that part in front of the pivot n is sufficient to withdraw the latch and to cause the latch member to assume it normal position as shown in Figure 1.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a. typewriting machine key levers operatively connected with type bars and springs for holding the key levers in normal position and for returning them thereto, said springs being mounted to directly engageand slide on the key levers, and means for simultaneously or collectively adjusting the springs fore and aft of the machine.

2. In a typewritingmachine, the combination with. the key levers and the type bars of a spring-carrying frame having means for adjusting it fore and aft of the machine, and springs mounted on the machine which have coiled portions and front looped portions which directly engage the key levers.

are

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the key levers and the type bars of a s ring-carrying frame, means for adjusting t e sprin .fore and aft of the machine, while in irect contact with the key levers, and means for supporting the frame and for guiding it while being adjusted which are operable from the outside of the machine frame.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the key levers and the type bars of a Z-sha d spring-carrying frame, springs attac ed to the upper front part thereof and which are connected with the key levers, and means operable from the outside of the machine frame and connected with the vertical part of the Z-shaped frame for adjusting the spring-carrying frame fore and aft of the machine.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the key levers and the type bars of a spring-carrying frame, springs thereon which engage the key levers, an arm extending rearwardly from the springcar 'ing frame, a bracket attached to the mac ine frame, and a roller carried by said bracket with which the arm of the springcarrying frame engages.

6. In a typewriting machine, key levers operatively connected with type bars, springs having portions which directly engage the key levers and hold said levers in normal position and return them thereto, and means for simultaneously and collectively adjusting the springs engthwise of the levers while in engagement therewith.

7. In a typewriting machine pivoted key levers operatively connected wit type bars, s rings having uniform tension which hold the key levers in normal position and return them thereto and which are adjustable fore and aft of the machine longitudinal] of the key levers and relatively to the pivots thereof to vary the distance of the connections between the springs and the levers from the pivots of said levers.

8. In atyplewriting machine, the combination with t e key levers and the type bars of a stop or rest for the type bars, and latch mechanism associated with the levers for momentarily locking the type bars in retracted position after their return from the printing point.

9. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination with t e key levers and the type bars of a stop or rest for the type ba1s,.and latch mechamsm carried by and movable with the key levers and which engage a stationary art of the machine for momentarily lock-1 ing the type bars in retracted position after their return from the printing point.

10. In a ty ewriting machine, the combination with t e key levers and the type bars of a stop or rest for the type bars, and latch mechanism pivotally connected with the front ends 0 the key levers, which engage a stationary part of the machine frame and which are operated by the momentum of the key levers when returning from the de-' pressed position to momentarily lock the type have in retracted position after their return from the printing point.

11; In a typewriting machine, the combination with the key levers and the ty e bars of a stop or rest for the'type bars, atches pivotal] connected with the front portions of the ey levers and momentarily engaging a stationary part of the machine frame, finger pieces carried by said latches, and stops on the latches engaging the key levers for limiting the movement of the latchesrelatively to the key levers.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of pivoted key levers and pivoted type bars operatively connected with the key levers, a stop or rest for the ty bars when inactive, and latches pivotal y connected at their rear ends with the front portions of the ke levers which carry finger pieces and whic are provided at their rear ends above their pivots with parts adapted to engage a stationa part 0 the machine frame immediately a er the type bars have returned to normal from the rinting point and which latches are automatically released by their own gravity as soon as the type bars cime to rest and liability of rebound has passe In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GUSTAVE O. DEGENER. 

